My wife and I share a gun cabinet and I’ve been told my shotguns should appear as 'shared' on my wife’s shotgun licence and hers shown similarly on mine.…
Shooting Times
Why a bit of moderation in shooting right now might not be a bad thing
Could a shortage of imported gamebirds for this coming season signal structural change in driven game shooting? In years to come, will we look back and recognise this season as…
Deer ammunition: does your chosen calibre fit the bill?
Thinking about deer ammunition While driving to the ground on one foggy morning on the A1, I was thinking about a discussion I had with a friend. That discussion was…
How do I train a gundog to run straight?
When you think of a working gundog, the goals are relatively simple. We need to get the dog to an area and allow it to hunt. This might be hunting…
‘Fake’ Welsh ban claims, Brexit headaches, and more – this week in fieldsports
Park suspends trail hunting The Lake District National Park Authority has become the latest UK public body to suspend trail hunting on land it owns after the trial of Mark…
Gaelic steak: cook one of HM The Queen’s favourite recipes
Apparently, HM The Queen likes one of her favourite dishes — Gaelic steak — two ways. When at one of her English homes, this incredibly rich, French-style, recipe is made…
Why summer is the most important time to control grey squirrels
It is easy to let the control of grey squirrels go off the boil through the summer, but taking the pressure off these invasive opportunists at this time of year…
Royal Warrants: a cartridge fit for The Queen
We were 12 miles north of Moy when the engine went bang. At first, the power started to go, then a gritty groan came from deep within the Jimny’s oily…
Why shooting should use the biodiversity net gain rules
The role I play in the countryside is a relatively diverse one. I am a land agent, a farmer’s son and I run a shoot. I am a conservationist, a…
Summer roebuck stalking – why June is a difficult month
A super blood moon had graced the heavens the night before. With so much cosmological excitement and an early sunrise, I decided to aim for mid-morning. It was an unusually…
Poisoned dogs: the symptoms and the dangers to look out for
Reports of poisoned dogs There was considerable panic in my local dog-owning community last month, when a three-year-old labrador reportedly died from poisoning. The initial Facebook post indicated that the…
Subaru Forester E-Boxer – does it lack oomph?
Subaru launched the Forester in 1997. Initially based on the Impreza, it gained a reputation for being a hard-wearing, no-nonsense, go-anywhere vehicle. It soon proved popular with country folk. Subaru…
Why Norfolk is the perfect sporting county
A ribbon of life runs north outside Fakenham in Norfolk on its way to the sea. Either side of the River Stiffkey, well-drained land rises and falls, giving the lie…
A pair of Prince Albert’s guns are up for auction
Before Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha arrived in Britain it would have been rare to see an Englishman shooting driven game. Prince Albert is widely credited with popularising driven…
Experts slam Labour Party Animal Welfare Society’s report on release of gamebirds
The report was written by the controversial academic, Professor Steven Harris, whose now largely discredited work was significant in the campaign to have fox hunting banned. Harris made little attempt…
What diseases could my dog pick up from foxes?
Disease from foxes All dogs, including gundogs can get the following disease from foxes: Sarcoptic mange Lungworm Rabies Dogs and foxes do suffer from the same diseases, though, of which…
Significant number of shoots cancelling days, according to reports
An outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in France has led to restrictions on the export of chicks and eggs to UK shoots and game farms, which has greatly reduced…
Rabbits for the table – what’s the law on selling wild food?
A lamping expedition for rabbits in East Kent proved fruitful for Charlotte Lycett Green, who discovered a local demand for quality game produce
Shooting corvids: Why our corvids are all going raven mad
Overall, our corvids are doing well these days. Even the recent modest decline of the rook should be set in the context of a largely increasing picture since the 1930s.…
Chiappa Little Badger
This month’s rifle was not quite what I was expecting and at first glance it might be construed as an odd choice for a review. However, the Chiappa Little Badger…